The Multi-Annual Financial Framework: a budget to match our ambitions?

The European Commission’s May 2nd proposals envisage far reaching changes to the EU’s spending framework. In the words of President Juncker the proposed increase in overall spending is “directly linked to our ambitions”. This includes a reorientation of spending towards issues such as border control, defence, mobility, research and innovation.

A key priority for the centre right in the forthcoming negotiations will be to ensure that a responsible EU budget emerges that advances a prosperous and secure Europe based on a competitive, and citizen based, social market economy. A budgetary process that should aim to be completed by the 2019 elections. This budget should also seek to maintain existing programmes such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Cohesion Policy.

An expert panel of policy makers and experts will discuss how the forthcoming budget process will shape the future development of the EU in a post-Brexit environment. The overarching question facing the speakers is: can we deliver a budget to match our ambitions?